Is Samsung's Cheapest Phone Better Than You Think? A05 & A05s Review!

Summary

In this Tech Daily video, Wade reviews Samsung's budget-friendly smartphones, the A05 and A5s, ideal for basic needs like calls, web browsing, and photos. He highlights the A05's shortcomings in screen quality and performance, recommending the A5s for its better display, Snapdragon 680 chip, and overall value under $150. The A5s offers a full HD+ 90Hz screen, fingerprint sensor, and a satisfactory camera, making it the clear choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable Android experience.

Takeaways

• 📱 Samsung offers two budget-friendly smartphones, the A05 and A5s, aimed at users needing basic functionalities.
• 🔍 The A5s is recommended over the A05 due to fewer compromises in screen quality and overall performance.
• 💰 Both phones are priced competitively, with the A05 typically around $119 and the A5s around $150-$175, often found at a discount.
• 📐 The A5s has a full HD 1080P display, while the A05 has a lower 720p resolution, making the A5s a better choice for visual quality.
• 🔄 The A5s supports a dynamic 90 Hz refresh rate, enhancing the smoothness and speed of the screen compared to the A05.
• 🔒 The A5s features a fingerprint sensor for added security, a feature absent in the A05.
• 🎮 For gaming and more demanding tasks, the A5s with its Snapdragon 680 chip outperforms the A05's MediaTek Helio G85.
• 🔋 Both phones are equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries and support 25W fast charging, a significant upgrade from previous models.
• 📸 The A5s and A05 have similar camera capabilities, with the A5s having an additional macro lens that may not be as useful to most users.
• 📐 The A5s is closer in design and features to Samsung's current A series lineup, while the A05 feels more like a separate, budget option.
• 👍 The A5s is praised as a solid entry-level smartphone that provides a full Android experience with Samsung's One UI, making it a clear choice for those on a budget.

Q & A

Which two budget smartphones from Samsung are discussed in the video?

The two budget smartphones discussed are the Samsung A05 and the A5s.

What does the reviewer suggest about the regular A5 compared to the A5s?

The reviewer suggests that the regular A5 has a lot of compromises, especially in screen quality and overall performance, making the A5s a better option despite being slightly more expensive.

What is the significance of the 'S' in the A5s model name according to the video?

The 'S' in A5s usually denotes a less significant upgrade, but in this case, it signifies an upgrade compared to the regular A5, even though both were released in the same year.

How do the A05 and A5s differ in terms of rear cover material?

The A05 has a glossy plastic rear cover with a faint stripe design, while the A5s has an imitation frosted finish that looks like glass but is actually soft plastic.

What is the main difference in display resolution between the A05 and the A5s?

The A05 has a 720p resolution display, whereas the A5s has a full HD 1080p display.

Does the A5s offer a higher refresh rate option, and if so, what is the benefit?

Yes, the A5s has the option to enable a dynamic 90 Hz refresh rate, which makes the phone feel faster and look smoother.

How do the A05 and A5s compare in terms of performance for gaming?

The A5s, powered by the Snapdragon 680 chip, performs much better for gaming compared to the A05, which uses the MediaTek Helio G85 and suffers in performance with more complex games.

What are the charging capabilities of both the A05 and A5s?

Both phones are powered by 5,000 milliamp batteries and can be charged at up to 25 W charging speeds.

How do the camera setups of the A05 and A5s differ, and what is the reviewer's opinion on the additional lens on the A5s?

The A5s has an extra macro lens compared to the A05, but the reviewer believes it is not very useful and that the camera capabilities of both phones are quite similar, capturing budget-looking pictures and videos.

What is the reviewer's final recommendation regarding the A05 and A5s?

The reviewer recommends the A5s as a solid budget option under $150, stating that it offers a fine screen, specs, performance, and camera, making it a straightforward choice over the A05.

What is the approximate price difference between the A05 and A5s, according to the video?

The A05 is usually priced around $119, while the A5s is closer to $150 or $175, but both can often be found at a discount, with the A5s being about $20 to $30 more than the A05.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Samsung's Budget Smartphones: A05 vs A5S Overview

Wade from Tech Daily introduces two budget-friendly Samsung smartphones, the A05 and A5S, suitable for users needing a basic Android device for calls, web browsing, directions, and photos. He expresses a preference for the A5S, which offers better value for money despite its slightly higher price. The A05 has several compromises, particularly in screen quality and performance. In contrast, the A5S is praised as a solid entry-level Samsung phone with a good balance of specs and features. Wade also notes that while both phones are part of Samsung's 2024 lineup, they are significantly different, with the A5S aligning more closely with the rest of the A series in terms of design and functionality.

05:01

🔍 In-Depth Comparison: Display, Performance, and Usability

This paragraph delves into the differences between the A05 and A5S, starting with their display qualities. The A05 has a 720p resolution on a large 6.7-inch screen, which Wade finds to be a significant compromise due to its fuzziness, especially compared to the A5S's full HD 1080p display. The A5S also offers a dynamic 90 Hz refresh rate, enhancing the smoothness of the viewing experience. Performance-wise, the A5S, powered by a Snapdragon 680 chip, outperforms the A05 with its MediaTek Helio G85 processor, especially when it comes to gaming. Both phones run on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, providing a full Android experience without compromising on the basics. Wade also mentions the lack of a fingerprint sensor on the A05, which is a surprising omission given its impact on the overall user experience.

10:01

🔋 Battery Life and Camera Capabilities

Both the A05 and A5S are equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries and support 25W charging speeds, a feature that Wade appreciates for budget devices. He also emphasizes the importance of using the correct fast charger to avoid slow charging times. Regarding the camera setup, the A5S has an additional macro lens, but Wade considers it largely unnecessary, as both phones have similar camera capabilities. They both feature a 50-megapixel main lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, with the A5S also including a macro lens for close-up photography. Interestingly, the A5S has a 13-megapixel selfie camera, which Wade finds inferior to the 8-megapixel front camera of the A05. Despite these differences, both phones are deemed adequate for capturing budget-level photos and videos, with neither offering flagship-quality camera performance.

Keywords

💡Samsung

Samsung is a South Korean multinational conglomerate known for its electronics division, which produces a wide range of products including smartphones. In the context of the video, Samsung is the manufacturer of the smartphones being reviewed, the A05 and A5s, which are part of their 2024 lineup. The video discusses the features and performance of these budget-friendly devices.

💡Smartphones

Smartphones are mobile phones with advanced computing and internet connectivity capabilities, allowing users to perform various tasks beyond traditional calls and messages. The video script focuses on two budget smartphones from Samsung, emphasizing their suitability for users needing basic functionalities at an affordable price.

💡A05

The A05 is one of the budget smartphones from Samsung that is mentioned in the video. It is positioned as a cheaper option but comes with compromises, particularly in screen quality and performance, which the reviewer finds disappointing compared to the A5s.

💡A5s

The A5s is another budget smartphone from Samsung that is highlighted in the video as a better option than the A05 due to its improved features and performance. The 's' in A5s denotes an upgrade over the regular A5, offering a more balanced spec-to-price ratio.

💡Budget Smartphones

Budget smartphones are devices that offer essential features at a lower price point, targeting consumers who are cost-conscious. The video script discusses the A05 and A5s as examples of budget smartphones, evaluating their capabilities and value for money.

💡Performance

In the context of smartphones, performance refers to how well a device handles tasks such as web browsing, gaming, and running apps. The video script compares the performance of the A05 and A5s, noting that the A5s has a better processor and overall user experience.

💡Display

The display of a smartphone is the screen where users interact with the device and view content. The video script discusses the differences in display quality between the A05 and A5s, with the latter having a higher resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate, making it smoother and clearer.

💡Fingerprint Sensor

A fingerprint sensor is a biometric security feature that allows users to unlock their smartphones using their fingerprint. The video script mentions that the A05 lacks a fingerprint sensor, which is considered a compromise, while the A5s includes this feature for added convenience.

💡Snapdragon 680

The Snapdragon 680 is a system-on-chip (SoC) used in smartphones, providing processing capabilities. The A5s is powered by this chip, which offers better performance compared to the MediaTek Helio G85 found in the A05, as discussed in the video script.

💡Camera

The camera of a smartphone is used for capturing photos and videos. The video script compares the camera capabilities of the A05 and A5s, noting that while the A5s has an additional macro lens, both phones have similar overall camera performance and are adequate for basic needs.

💡Battery

The battery of a smartphone is a crucial component that provides power to the device. The video script mentions that both the A05 and A5s have 5,000 milliamp batteries, which are capable of fast charging at up to 25 W, enhancing the user experience by providing longer usage times between charges.

Highlights

Samsung introduces two budget-friendly smartphones, the A05 and A5s, for 2024.

The A5s is considered a better option compared to the A05 due to fewer compromises.

The A5s offers a more solid entry-level experience with a balance of specs and features at a low price point.

The A05 and A5s are part of Samsung's 2024 smartphone lineup and are the cheapest options available.

The A05 and A5s have different rear covers, with the A05 having glossy plastic and the A5s an imitation frosted finish.

The A5s comes with a fingerprint sensor, unlike the A05 which lacks this feature.

The A5s has a full HD 1080P display, unlike the A05 which has a lower 720p resolution.

The A5s offers a dynamic 90 HZ refresh rate for a smoother viewing experience.

Both phones run on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, providing a full Android experience even at a low price.

The A5s is powered by the Snapdragon 680 chip, outperforming the A05's MediaTek Helio G85.

Both phones have 4 GB of RAM, which is considered the minimum for smooth basic operation.

The A05 and A5s are equipped with 5,000 milliamp batteries and support 25 W charging speeds.

The A5s has an additional macro lens, but its utility is questioned in comparison to other camera features.

The A5s and A05 have different selfie camera resolutions, with the A5s having a 13 MP and the A05 an 8 MP.

The A5s is recommended as a satisfactory budget phone under $150, offering a familiar Android experience.

Transcripts

what's going on guys my name is Wade

with tech daily so Samsung has two cheap

smartphones for you to choose from this

year the a05 and the a5s and I think if

you just need a simple and familiar

Android device to make phone calls

browse the web get directions and snap a

quick picture these are a couple of

great options well actually I don't

think the regular A5 is that good of an

option to be totally honest it has a lot

of compromises and by comparison the a5s

feels like twice the phone for not a

whole lot more money so in this video

I'm going to do sort of a half

comparison half review of each phone so

you can see well one if either of these

is right for you and two how they

compare to one another so you can pick

the right one for your needs if you just

want The quick summary though I

personally feel that the regular a05 has

too many compromises particularly in

screen quality and overall performance

while the a5s is actually a pretty solid

entry-level stand Samsung smartphone

with no glaring issues and a nice

balance of specs and features at its

very cheap price point and certainly

better than the entrylevel a phones of

years past now before we get into it I

want to reiterate that yes these two a5s

are the cheapest phones Samsung

currently offers within their 2024

smartphone lineup every time I make a

video like this inevitably people leave

a comment talking about some random

phone that was released two two or 3

years ago that's the cheapest like yeah

okay the

a3s from 2021 is 50 bucks on Amazon now

but if you're going off of that you may

as well call this $8 flip phone the

cheapest Samsung device I'm talking

about the cheapest phones that Samsung

offers this year in 2024 as part of

their current Aeries phones and these

two are the cheapest ones available the

regular A5 is usually priced at about

119 bucks and the a 5S is supposed to be

closer to like 150 or 175 bucks but

these phones have been out for a little

while now and plenty of online retailers

and third party sellers are offering

them at a discount they haven't quite

cracked the $100 threshold but the a05

is close and the a5s is usually about $

20 to $30 more no matter where in the

world you are or where you buy them from

these phones should now be well under

$150 and I think that's a pretty darn

good price to pay for any Samsung phone

honestly but especially something

relatively current one important thing I

also want to stress is that in the

naming scheme of smartphones an S at the

end like a5s usually denotes a less

significant upgrade but an upgrade

nonetheless compared to the phone of the

same name from the year prior thank

Apple for inventing that but in this

case the regular e05 and the a5s were

released in the same year and the s s

here well it kind of denotes an upgrade

compared to the regular A5 but Samsung

has had other s phones and even e phones

that weren't direct successors just

different devices within the same year

and that's what we have here once again

the A5 and a5s are very different even

if it doesn't really look that way at

first and the best way I can classify

them is by saying that the

a5s is way closer to the rest of

Samsung's current a series lineup this

year while the regular A5 doesn't have

nearly as much in common they're both

6.7 in smartphones that's the visible

screen size you get corner to corner you

get that with most phones nowadays

really and they're thick black borders

Old school camera Notch and bulky bottom

chin round out a very budget look from

the front no surprises here around back

it might be hard to see but the regular

a05 has a glossy plastic rear cover with

this faint stripe design while the a5s

is an imitation frosted finish intended

on looking like glass but it's a very

obvious soft plastic too I personally

think the glossy plastic housing on the

regular A5 makes it look a bit cheaper

and like I mentioned a moment ago this

is the first of many things that

separates it from the other a series

phones the rest of the lineup looks more

like the

a5s so I want to just quickly fire off a

couple other important bits about these

two phones they both can be conf

configured with either 64 or 128 GB of

storage but I think you'll find the a05

being sold with 64 GB and the a5s being

sold with 128 GB most often either way

both phones support micro SD cards so if

you need some extra space you at least

have the flexibility to do so the a5s

has a power button fingerprint sensor

for unlocking which wouldn't necessarily

be noteworthy except that the regular

a05 doesn't have a fingerprint sensor at

all they both have unlock as an option

the lack of a fingerprint sensor

altogether on the regular A5 I think is

a bit of a surprise when it comes to the

viewing experience like I mentioned just

getting this big of a screen on a $100

device is pretty great no matter what

lots of people say that but you

obviously are going to have some

compromises in quality that I think are

important to understand let's start with

what's similar these are both IPS LCD

displays so they don't get very bright

and you're going to battle a lot of

glare but for any in this price range I

think that's just a given the regular A5

though is a disappointing 720 resolution

display the a5s is a full HD 1080P and I

think at this big of a size that low

resolution on the regular A5 is a bit

more obvious I realize not everyone

stares at their screen right in front of

their nose but you can really tell how

fuzzy things look on the regular A5 and

I feel like that's a tough compromise to

deal with also the a5s has the option to

enable a dynamic 90 HZ refresh rate this

isn't quite a flagship feature of course

but it's that extra little boost that

makes the phone feel faster and look

smoother and I do think nowadays A lot

of people are going to notice the

difference if you can't immediately tell

just look at how much more closely the

screen follows my finger on the a5s and

how much smoother scrolling looks the

a5s I think has a decent enough budget

screen where it doesn't feel totally

cheap while the a z 5 to me seems like

it has too many compromises here to

ignore but perhaps for 100 bucks if

you're just using the phone for simple

stuff getting a sharp bright and

colorful display is completely

unnecessary or irrelevant I feel like it

is important personally and this is yet

another reason why I think the a5s is a

pretty straightforward Choice when it

comes to Performance and usability and

the Android experience this is sort of a

three-part story in general I feel that

both of these phones offer this sort of

specs that can handle what people who

buy these smartphones will do with them

namely browse the web answer text

messages pull up directions enjoy a

YouTube video there's some solace in

knowing that even for 100 bucks you can

get a somewhat reliable smartphone to

just keep you connected and they offer

The Familiar flare of Samsung's Android

experience the current Android

experience and the full one at that

Android 14 with one UI 6.1 that you'd

want even for such such a low price

there's basically no compromises with

the basics and at a glance the geek

bench scores also don't really suggest

that there would be even a big

difference in performance between these

two phones but when you start to play

around with them the difference becomes

more clear part two in this long- winded

story is that if you do actually want to

push these phones harder like if you

wanted to play games with them the a5s

is going to be much more reliable it's

powered by the Snapdragon 680 chip while

the regular a 5 has The mediatech Helio

g85 and the newer better Snapdragon

processor in the a5s very obviously

outperforms the more complex the game

the more the a05 suffers and while

certain titles aren't necessarily

unplayable I wouldn't say that they're

enjoyable I didn't have nearly the same

choppy experience on the a5s and I was

pretty surprised by that honestly to me

these phones are so close in price to

begin with I'm sort of surprised Samsung

even made the regular A5 there's no

reason for this to be the bottom

Benchmark for performance releasing just

the a5s and calling it The a05 would

have made way more sense the third

consideration with these phones I'll

also just quickly mention is that both

of mine here have 4 GB of RAM and while

you may be able to find a 05s with 6

gigs I don't know that spending the

money to spec either of these phones

higher makes a whole lot of sense versus

just getting an allaround better device

like an a15 for example the 4 GB of RAM

feels like the most limiting factor here

but I understand that it was probably a

cost-saving measure to just put the

absolute minimum amount needed to run

the basic stuff smoothly now for all my

criticisms like I said I'm totally fine

with how the a5s performs and I think

it's the Clear Choice since it's not

that much more money on its own the a5s

also just feels like a nice entrylevel

device that can still handle even a bit

more than what you need it to do and

getting the full-fledged Android and

Samsung Experience is probably pretty

valuable to some people too what's also

of particular interest to me is that

both these phones are powered by 5,000

milliamp batteries and they can be

charged at up to 25 W charging speeds

that's pretty good for these lowly a

zero devices because it wasn't too long

ago that the a zeros literally had micro

USB ports and were charging at half or

less that charging rate I think most

people will pull a full day of use out

of these phones anyway but it's nice to

know they can charge back up in like an

hourish you just need to make sure you

supply the correct fast charger yourself

which side note I feel like if there

were ever a time to include a better

charger in the Box these phones should

have it customers who have purchased

cheaper Android phones literally may not

have ever had fast charging USBC plugs

even today so please make sure you do so

you don't suffer from super slow speeds

now if you didn't notice already the A5

and a5s also don't have the the same

number of camera lenses around back but

the extra lens you do get on the

a5s is pretty worthless at least in my

opinion as a whole the capabilities

offered and actual picture and videos

captured with both phones are

surprisingly similar both the a5s have

seemingly the same 50 megapixel main

lenses they also each have a secondary 2

megapixel depth sensor the third lens on

the a5s is a macro for up close pictures

but I I mean how many times do people

actually opt for macro mode when

snapping a pick a lot of budget phones

nowadays are completely abandoning this

lens you'll notice it's really the only

extra thing that's added to the a5s

everything else is pretty much the same

what's sort of odd is that the selfie

cameras are different for whatever

reason and the 13 megapixel lens on the

a5s actually looks worse in my opinion

and the 8 megapixel and the regular a05

so I'm not totally sure what the deal is

with that but General both these phones

capture very similar albeit very Budgy

looking pictures and videos these are

obviously a far cry from any flagship

phone of course and I think still a ways

away from even a mid-tier $400 device

for example but they're not terrible

they'll snap a pick if you need them to

and I really don't think anyone is

opting for an a05 specifically for its

camera capabilities I wish there was

more even just an ultra wide lens would

be helpful but I understand that the

camera setups are just not something

Samsung is going to prioritize on these

particular phones overall I feel like

Samsung has some solid options for their

entry-level smartphones this year the

regular a05 sort of feels like they

maybe had some spare parts laying around

and they just wanted to sell this as one

more option in the lineup but the a5s to

me seems good enough to make budget

conscious folks happy there's nothing

that I see that's of particular concern

with the a5s the screen is fine the

specs and performance are fine the

camera is also well fine it's a

perfectly fine phone for under $150 and

if you need a fine familiar Android

smartphone from a brand like Samsung

well that's what you're going to get

with the a5s this year their cheapest

current 2024 smartphone but what do you

guys think of the a5s this year if you

have one yourself definitely let me know

your experience with it in the comments

down below I'd love to hear your

thoughts of course hopefully you guys

did enjoy this video though be sure to

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see you guys later